Tue Aug 16 15:42:28 PDT 2005 — Internal SQL server outage: Our primary internal SQL server that handles the storage for tools is down for emergency maintenance to replace faulty hardware. This affects membertools and many of the systems used by tech support. Services will be restored as soon as possible. -Operations

Tue Aug 16 14:27:51 PDT 2005 — Shell services on shell.sonic.net had some problems related to the user database. This manifested as trouble logging in to the shell, and as problems with unix userid which would be observed as errors in some applications.

The trouble came and went for a few minutes at a time over the course of 20 minutes or so while we worked to isolate and resolve the bug. Sorry for the late MOTD! -Dane & team

Sat Aug 13 16:12:45 PDT 2005 — Our secure web server was not serving traffic from approximately 5:15 to 5:45 this morning. Cause was traced to memory overconsumption due to processes not correctly freeing unused memory. We will be investigating further to prevent this from happening again. -Jared

Thu Aug 11 12:14:23 PDT 2005 — Shell server ssh upgrade. We’ve upgraded ssh and sshd on our shell servers to the latest version of OpenSSH with localizations for our environment. (Yea!) -Kelsey and Nathan

Update Thu Aug 11 20:43:08 PDT 2005: The problems with the ‘bot’ monitor on the shell server were noted early this afternoon – it was disabled pending further debbuging. -Ops

Tue Aug 9 23:30:32 PDT 2005 — Mail server storage failure. One of our Netapp filers that is used for mail spools went down and its partner filer has failed to take over its duties. We’re en route to fix the issue. Some users will notice inbound message delays until this is fixed, but no mail will be lost. -Nathan, Kelsey and Jared

Update Wed Aug 10 00:04:16 PDT 2005: The failure has been cleared. We’re currently determining the cause to ensure it doesn’t happen again. -Nathan and Kelsey

Sun Aug 7 01:37:07 PDT 2005 — Our internal SQL server was offline briefly tonight – consistency checks meant that member tools were unavailable for a few hours. Sorry about that! -Dane, and some other folks who forgot to update the MOTD. =)

Fri Aug 5 17:26:36 PDT 2005 — FCC rules to deregulate DSL. Today the FCC has ruled that incumbent telephone carriers will no longer be required to sell wholesale access to DSL loops to ISPs. Their argument seems to be that less broadband competition will mean more availability of more competitive broadband products, and they seem to have the ability to make that contradictory statement with a straight face, despite the lack of logic.

Sonic.net has long term contracted relationships with it’s suppliers, including SBC-ASI, and we do not expect that this decision will greatly affect us in the next four to five years. In addition, Sonic.net is one of the top five SBC-ASI partners in the country, and we expect to be able to continue to maintain this partnership.

That said – the FCC has dealt what is likely to be a death blow to many small independent ISPs, and the Internet as we know it in the US is not likely to be the same a couple years from now. You can expect far fewer choices, but you can also expect Sonic.net to be one of them.

I encourage you to share your thoughts about the shut-out of independent ISPs with the FCC – here are their email addresses:

Chairman Kevin Martin – Kevin.Martin@fcc.gov Commissioner Michael Copps – Michael.Copps@fcc.gov Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein – Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy – Kathleen.Abernathy@fcc.gov

Note that Michael Copps seems to understand the problems that this will create, but he’s in the minority.

Consumers need to tell the federal government that we LIKE choice, and that this decision is just plain wrong. Please send then an email today. Thanks. -Dane and crew

Update: Phoning the FCC to register your comments is also a great idea!

1-888-225-5322 – FCC Toll-Free number (202) 418-1000 – Kevin Martin (202) 418-2000 – Michael Copps (202) 418-2400 – Kathleen Abernathy (202) 418-2300 – Jonathan Adelstein

Mon Aug 1 17:18:44 PDT 2005 — Internal SQL server outage: One of our internal SQL servers unexpectedly rebooted earlier this afternoon taking down many of our public and internal tools. It also affected some of our spam filtering systems. Services were restored as soon as the database consistency checks finished. -Operations

Fri Jul 29 15:48:37 PDT 2005 — Dialup Hardware Upgrades. On Monday, 8/1, at 10 AM, we will be upgrading the hardware that serves the dialup phone numbers ending in -9606. A few customers may have to reconnect after the upgrade occurs. -Russ, Nathan and John

Thu Jul 28 11:26:07 PDT 2005 — Broadlink Firewalling. After a number of delays we have applied firewalling to all Broadlink DSL subscribers. The same firewalls for SBC DSL subscribers are available to all Broadlink subscribers but any change to the firewalling configuration must be executed manually by a support. Again, there are three firewall rulesets:

Option One: Complete Inbound TCP Firewalling. This firewall rule set prevents any inbound TCP connections from being established, protecting your system from most types of Internet attacks.

Option Two (the default, recommended by Sonic.net): Common Exploitable Port Firewalling. This is the default firewall rule set applied to DSL circuits. It blocks traffic on port 25 (SMTP email) both to and from a customers circuit to any mail servers other than Sonic.net maintained servers as well as preventing communication on ports used by common Microsoft services that are frequently exploited.

Option Three: Port 25 Firewalling. This firewall rule set only restricts traffic on port 25 (SMTP email) to and from a customers circuit to any mail servers other than sonic.net maintained servers. This is the minimum recommended rule set. This rule set generally prevents your computer from being hijacked and used to send SPAM directly to other mail servers.

Additionally, users may request to have all firewalling disabled.

-Kelsey and Nathan